Securing device



C. IVIENDLER.

SECURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.8, 1921. 1,412,481.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MENDLER, 0F SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA.

SECURING DEVICE.

Application filed November T o all lo/om it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLEs MENDLER, a citizen of.' the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Securing Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed to improvements in a securing device adapted to frictionally engage a shank, and is an improvement upon the device disclosed in my copending application tiled August 2nd, 1921. under Serial No. 489,294, the present invention being .directed specifically to an improved construction of the clamping elements wherein said clamping elements are diametrically disposed to cause the free end and the hinge portion of each element to be in substantially diametrical alignment.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved construction whereby pressure may be applied in the direction of movement to release the clamping elements to facilitate the operation thereof.

Another object is to provide means formed integral with the securing member for fastening the same upon an object.

I accomplish these and other objects by' means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout said specification and drawings, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved securing member.

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the clamping elements bent to bring the ends thereof into dianietrical alignment.

Fig. 3 is a. vertical section of the device applied as a means for securing a side curtain upon a vehicle.

In my former invention'I disclosed a pair of proximate clamping elements having gripping portions extending laterally therefrom so that pressure applied to vmove said clamping elements to a releasing position is applied from the side and there is a tendency for the gripping portion to bend relatively to the clamping elements before moving said elements to release the shank engaged thereby. This requires an excessive amount of movement to obtain the re-. lease, and as the pressure is not applied in Specification of Letters Patent.

atcnted Apr. 11, 1922.

a, 1921. serial No. 513,851.

the direction of the desired movement, but laterally thereto, the leverage is reduced and excessive effort required.

.To overcome these difficulties I have provlded' the improved construction disclosed 1n the present application, reference to whlch dlscloses that, as in my former inventlon, my improved securing device cons1sts of a clamping member l having a backlng member 2 crimped or otherwiseY sec ured thereto. The clamping member conslsts of a rim 3 having a pair of proximate clamping elements 4 formed integral therewith, said elements 4, in my improved construction being substantially diametrically disposed so that the free en ds 6, corresponding to the gripping portions 3 of my former construction, will be in substantially diametrical alignment with the strips 7 by which said elements are secured to the rim 3 and which act as hinge portions about which the clamping elements are outwardly sprung to a releasing position.

The elements 4 are provided with oppositely disposed matching recesses 8 formed upon the proximate edges 9 of the elements to form an aperture 11 of a diameter slightly less than that of a shank 13 arranged to extend through an aperture 12 in the backing member 2, and to be engaged between the recesses 8 when the securing member is forced thereover.

y forming the elements 4 in the manner above described. a pressure applied to the ends (5 is directed in the direction of movement of the elements 4 which are sprung outwardly from the hinge portion 7. The leverage obtained is materially greater in the present construction than in my former invention as the releasing pressure is now applied at the end of the elements 4 whereas in the former invention the releasing leverage was only equal to the distance from the hinge portion to the center. In this manner, the effort required to move the elements 4 is decreased and the removal of the securing member correspondingly facilitated.

The above described construction is particularly valuable in usages requiring a comparatively heavy and rugged construction. In F ig. 3 of the drawings I have illustrated one of such usages, the example selected being the securing of a side curtain upon a vehicle. In this application the shank 13 is formed upon a plate 16 secured upon the tain. The curtain is now placed and the se curing member forced over the shankl 13 thereby securing the curtain in position. The outwardly oifset clamping elements 4 effectually prevent loosening of the fastening as any pressure tending to move the securing means off from the shank 13 only operates to force the edges of the recesses 8 into more firm engagement with saidshank. A

The tabs 17 are stamped from the backing member 2 at the same operation by Awhich the member is shaped, thereby providing a means. for securing the member upon a curtain or other article without increasing the cost of manufacture and without requiring any extra material. However, if the securing means is to be used, as in my former invention without being fastened directly to any article, the tabs may be dispensed with.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have dis closed a manner vin which the clamping elements 4, stamped from the clamping member 1 and [shaped as in Fig. 1, may be bent laterallyto bring the tip or gripping portion 6 more nearly into diametrical allgnment with the hinge portion 7.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a securing device, a clamping mem-l their points of attachment to said rim to permit pressure to be applied upon said free ends with maximum leverage land in the direction of movement to spring said clamping elements outwardly about their points of attachment to disengage said shank.

2. In a securing device, a clamplng memthereby.

3. A securing device Acomprising a shank adapted for attachment to a body; a securing member provided with a pair of proximate clamping elements formed integral therewith and arranged to frictionally engage the shank, said elements having ree ends in substantially diametrical alignment with hinge portions connecting said elements with the securing member whereby pressure may be applied at said free ends with maximum leverage and in the direction of movement to spring said elements outwardly about their points of attachment upon said hinge portions to disengage said shank; and means formed integrally with said securing member for fastening said member upon an article to be secured there by.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my sig-- nature.

CHARLES MENDLER. 

